Maharashtra issues strict guidelines to stop spread of coronavirus

Mumbai : The Maharashtra government has announced strict restrictions to stop spread of coronavirus in the state that has been contributing maximum number of daily cases. 

The state government has announced night curfew in the state and a "strict lockdown" over the weekends from Friday 8 pm to Monday 7 am amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases.

The new rules will come to effect from today. The curfew will be imposed from 8 pm to 7 am; a ban on gatherings of five or more throughout the day; malls, restaurants, bars and places of worship will be closed; meanwhile, home delivery and essential services have been allowed.

The guidelines have allowed industrial operations and construction activity, film shoots will be allowed without crowds but theatres will be closed.

On weekends, everything except the essential services will remain closed. Public transport will continue to operate at 50 per cent of its capacity. 

The new restrictions have been announced after a meeting was held with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday. Earlier, CM had said that the possibility of a second lockdown cannot be ruled out. 

Maharashtra reported nearly 50,000 new cases on Saturday - around 60 per cent of all cases reported from across the country on that day. On Friday the state reported around 48,000 cases.

State capital Mumbai reported over 11,000 cases on Sunday - the most in a day since the pandemic began in December 2019. On Saturday, the city reported over 9,000 new cases.

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